Matome Ugaki

Matome Ugaki (15 February 1890-15 August 1945) was a Vice Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

Biography
Matome Ugaki was born on 15 February 1890 in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, and he graduated from the Imperial Japanese Navy Academy in 1912. Ugaki was promoted to Captain in 1932 and to Rear Admiral in 1938, and he became Chief-of-Staff of the Combined Fleet under Isoroku Yamamoto during World War II. He became a Vice Admiral on 1 November 1942, and he narrowly survived when his plane was shot down by the United States alongside Yamamoto's plane, being one of three survivors when the plane crashed into the sea. Ugaki became commander of the Japanese 5th Air Fleet in 1944 and fought at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. On 15 August 1945, he decided to show the true spirit of bushido after Japan surrendered by taking off all insignia on his uniform and taking only a ceremonial sword from Yamamoto with him to a plane; he led ten planes in a final suicide attack on the US Navy off Okinawa. All but three planes were shot down by anti-aircraft fire, with Ugaki being among the dead. Ryunosuke Kusaka took over the 5th Air Fleet after his death.